Ivf frustration

[rghkah38]

Hi Everyone,

On Tuesday I had my retrival and they got 3 eggs, which only 2 of them were mature.  They split to a 4 cell on the second day, which was Thursday.  I was so excited because on Thursday they said they were doing very well and that my tranfer will be on Friday at 10:00am.  The next morning at 8:30am I got a call from the embyrologist saying she had bad news.  She told me one had major problems and the other hasn't continue to split.  They suggested to still do the tranfer on the one because it still looked strong. So, at 10:00am I transfered a 4 cell with fragmentations.   I was so upset and mad, I can't believe this was happening again where my embryos just stop splitting by the third day.  What's going on??  I am so frustrated and sad.  Now, I have to take all these pills and progestrone shots knowing deep down in my heart that it's not going to take.  Is this problem happening to anyone else?  Please help.

[Helen72]

Thank you both for the infomation you provide on this thread and this forum!  Your experiences and informed opinions are so very helpful.

SDScientist,
I hope your ivf at the new clinic is a success.  You went through so much already you really deserve a break!  I also feel like you can change your handle from SDScientist to SDRE since you basically accumulated as much info as any RE.

Julie,
good luck to you next month!

[SDScientist]

It will be high for awhile.  8 days after retrieval, 3 days past a 5 day transfer my estradiol levels were still around 1000 and my progesterone was around 200.  A few days later my estradiol dropped to a around 300 and my progestgerone to around 60.

[rghkah38]

I got my levels back today and she told me my Estrodiol was 765 and my progestrone level is 114.8.   Does this seem high?  I thought maybe they would cut me down on some of the meds I'm taking, but they didn't.

[Julie1615]

Thanks Helen! I used Gonal-F for my first IVF cycle too. I remember my RE telling me that follistim and gonal-f are just two diff brands of the exact same medicine. Don't know if one is more expensive than the other though....

Julie

[SDScientist]

I have always used Follistim.  I have not heard that Gonal-F is better.  As far as I know they are both the same-just FSH.  

[Helen72]

I am starting my very first ivf cycle and I just got my protocol.  Can someone tell me what the difference is between Follistim and Gonal-F?  My protocol requires Gonal-F which is so much more expensive.  Is it better in any way?

Julie,
good luck to you next cycle!

[SDScientist]

I only know what my current Dr is doing and he had me do two weeks of birth control overlapped by one week of Lupron..  I had AF when I stopped the bcps.  Then I switched from Lupron to Ganirelix half a syringe every day.  I did this for 6 days before starting 375 of Follistim daily plus the 1/2 dose Ganirelx and 1 vial of Luveris every other day.  Things are looking good so far.  I had 18 follicles this morning.  My ER may be Thrusday. I started a progress thread in my "Journal" that I will update.  Try looking at haveababy.com.  There is some information on the bulletin boards posted from the Dr;s.  If you search threads for High FSH there should be some protocol suggestions.

[Julie1615]

Hi Kah, yeah, I also read that DHEA can cause irreversible hair loss and that has scared me too. I will ask my RE next month before deciding to take it, I'm reluctant to self medicate. Thanks so much for your wishes:)

Hi Elizabeth, sorry to hear about your mc. I have never gotten pregnant even once till now and miscarriage is something that terrifies me too. Hope everything goes well for you dear..

Hi Ateh, I have been doing acupuncture for the last four weeks. I have read many positive things about how acupuncture helps improve your over all fertility and I do hope and pray that it will work for me too. Many REs have recommended it too, so keeping my fingers crossed!! what kind of infertility have you been diagnosed with?? Do let me know. All the very best for your first IVF cycle, hope everything goes well!! keeping you in my thoughts.

Hi SDS, I'm so surprised to know that Menopur affects egg quality and maturation!! My first IVF cycle I used 1 vial of menopur with 300 units of gonal-f. I have since then changed REs becoz the first one didn't give me much hope at all and I didn't want to work with someone who didnt believe it wouldn't work for me. Also, I had 10 eggs retrieved of which only 2 were mature and both fertilized. But only 1 embryo made it to transfer day and sadly that ivf cycle failed:(((
I'm going to start my next ivf cycle with a new RE next month, so I will definitely keep in mind to ask about menopur. Do you happen to know what kind of stims/meds/protocols are ideal for women with poor egg quality? Any info would help! Good luck for your ivf cycle!! Please keep us updated on your progress and how the egg quality looks.... gives me a lot of hope too:))

sssbd to all!!

best,
Julie

[SDScientist]

I am so sorry about your cycle.  I just wanted to say that I am going to a new Dr who believes Menopur comprises egg quality/maturity.  My second cycle my Dr doubled my Menopur and although I got 11 eggs only 5 mature/3 fertilized.  The first time when I used half the Menopur I had 13 eggs/9 mature/9 fertilized.  I am currently on Day 6 of stims for cycle 3 and I have not used any Menopur so we'll see how my egg quality is at Friday's ER.  There are some Drs and protocols that are better for elevated FSH.  If you want to try again it may be worth looking into.

[ateh]

kah,i'm so sorry you're going through this.but as the saying goes,the end justifies the means.only the end matters.all we need is a baby and believe me our ever merciful god knows we need it.i'll be praying for you.
julie,how long have you been doing accupuntures and what exactly is it's importance.i'm about to start my 1st ivf cycle and i really want to make sure i'm doing the right thing to be ready.i'm currently cd7 and 4th day on bc pills

[elizabeth250]

With my 2 IVF I get to 5-6 weeks and I m/c.  I'm 43 and I think that my eggs are getting old and they are not strong enough to make it pass the 5-6 weeks.  If the desire is in your heart to have kids than don't let anything take that away.  Good luck and I'll pray answers to come your way.

[rghkah38]

Hi Julie,

I have read some posts about DHEA, but I don't know too much about it.  I was actually going to ask my doctor what she thought when I see her on the 18th.  Do you know what kind of side effects it can cause.  The only one I know about is hair loss, which makes me nervous.  Are you taking DHEA supplements and if so, how is it going?

I hope you get great egg quality on your next ivf cycle and get that BFP!!!!  I will be praying for you too.  

[Julie1615]

Hi Kah, yeah I know what you mean about racing against time:( I just turned 30 and I don't know my true FSH level, because my high E2 level is artificially supressing it. I also have one failed IVF due to poor egg quality. Im going to start my second IVF next month... and meanwhile doing acupuncture.

Your FSH level does seem elevated, have you thought about taking DHEA supplements? I have read that they can improve egg quality significantly.... but its not without its side effects. I know the next two weeks are going to be very stressful for you...:) but do keep posting and I'm sure it helps to vent;) Praying for you dear and hoping that everything will turn out okay.

best,
Julie

[Helen72]

Obviously, this new protocol is a mistake.  I am so sorry you have to suffer so much!  I am about to start my first ivf and your story just breaks my heart.

[rghkah38]

This was my 4th Ivf and it seems like my embryos do well for the first couple of day and then they have problems.  The first 2 cycles I was taking follistim and did get pregnant on the 2nd ivf cycle, which turned out to be ectopic.The last 2 cycles they switched me to menupur and my embryos quality has been worst.  

[Helen72]

I am so sorry this is happening to you!  I can totally feel your frustration and helplessness.  Did they screw up your protocol?  Did you have this problem in the past?  

[rghkah38]

Hi julie,

I'm taking estrace, endometrine suppositories , prometrine, and the oil shots.  They told me my last cycle my FSH level went up to 37 and this cycle it only went to 9, so I know part of the reason must be my fsh.  I'm 32 and I can't believe I am having so many problems and I also feel like I am racing against time because of my fsh levels.

[Julie1615]

Hi kah, sooo sorry to hear that dear. This is really so frustrating. More so doing the progesterone when knowing you had an average grade embryo transfer. Are you doing the suppositories or the shots? I do feel that things may not be really awful as you imagine. Embryos do correct themselves and continue to split especially while inside the body. So please keep your spirits up:))

I had the same thing with my first IVF too where they only transferred one 6 cell embryo on day three and I had felt sooooo depressed then. So I can really imagine how you must be feeling. Hope you feel better soon dear.

lots of luck and sssbd!!

Julie